The LeadersIn Maritime Law

Crane Accident Attorney

You work in the Gulf of Mexico because it's your job and our nation
needs energy resources. You've always been ready to handle the physical
demands of offshore work, but a serious accident offshore can leave you
out of work for months with serious injuries or permanent disabilities.
40+ oil rig workers have died and 1,300+ have been injured in offshore
accidents in the Gulf of Mexico in the last 5 years. Many of those involved
crane accidents.

Crane accidents pose a particular risk to deckhands, roustabouts, and roughnecks
who work as riggers or assist in crane operations on offshore platforms,
supply boats, or work boats in the Gulf of Mexico. Maritime workers and
offshore platform workers can suffer
head injuries,
brain damage,
spinal injuries,
back injuries, and permanent disabilities from crane accidents. If you or a loved one
working offshore has suffered a serious injury in a crane accident, contact
a knowledgeable
maritime lawyer at Arnold & Itkin about your legal rights. We are committed to helping
you obtain the compensation you need to recover from a serious offshore accident.

Responsibilities of a Crane Operator

When a person works aboard an offshore jobsite, there are many different
job titles and positions to fill to ensure that the plant or rig is operating
correctly. As an important piece to the puzzle, a crane operator has many
responsibilities on both onshore and offshore locations.

The responsibilities of a crane operator can include:

Maintaining all crane equipment

Following all safety procedures during operations

Inspecting all of the cranes annually to ensure that there are no defective
or malfunctioning parts

Remaining available at all hours of the day to respond to an emergency situation

Many offshore drilling sites,
oil rigs, and other types of offshore jobsites can be extremely dangerous. With
the serious responsibilities placed on crane operators, accidents can
often occur in the most stressful situations. It is important to remember
that your rights as a crane operator are protected under the
Jones Act.

Providing a Closer Look at Crane Accidents

Crane accidents include the failure of the boom, cables, winches, ballring,
and rigging hardware. The improper disassembly or assembly of mobile cranes
causes some accidents. Many mobile crane accidents are caused by lack
of proper crew training or lack of supervision. Others are caused by lack
of maintenance. A poorly maintained crane can have a mechanical failure
that can cause serious injury or death from a broken hoist line or dropped load.

In years of analyzing maritime incidents in the Gulf of Mexico, we have
frequently found that accidents and injuries occur while offshore workers
are performing routine tasks such as drilling, construction, lifting of
pipe, and coil tubing operations. Frequently, an offshore company's
neglect of maintenance, lack of formalized training about the hazards
of the work, and lack of supervision contribute to preventable crane accidents
and injuries. With some accidents, a short change crew may be on duty
at the time with maritime workers handling unfamiliar roles.

Riggers who attach and unhook loads and assist with crane operations suffer
the most injuries in crane accidents. Riggers can be roustabouts, roughnecks,
or deckhands on a work or supply boat or a platform. A
rigger can be struck on the head by a boom or a swinging load or be pinned between
a dropped load and a deck if a corroded hoist wire fails on a crane. The
crane operator and the rigger may not be trained to communicate properly
to avoid accidents; this lack of training or supervision can contribute
to the accidents.

Oil and gas exploration companies, energy production companies, and offshore
contractors are required by law to provide written reports detailing all
incidents involving fatalities, injuries that require evacuation of an
injured worker, fire and explosions, crane accidents, material handling
accidents, and loss of well control. These reports can be used by a skilled
maritime lawyer to build a compelling case of negligence on the part of an offshore employer.

Contact our offshore accident lawyers today!

At our firm we handle maritime law cases and Jones Act claims every day.
We are aggressive advocates for injured offshore workers and their families
in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and across the Gulf of Mexico.
You want an aggressive Jones Act lawyer who will stand up for your legal
rights at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. You want a maritime
law firm with an established track record of obtaining substantial settlements
and verdicts for clients. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we have obtained
billions of dollars. We know how to get results.

Why Does the Navy Keep Having Accidents?

Lawsuit Filed for Louisiana Seaman with Injured Back

Case Filed for Louisiana Seaman Injured by Bad Rigging

What is it Like To Work
With Arnold & Itkin

Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured
in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

I encountered professionalism, understanding, compassion… lot of compassion.
They really felt for what me and my wife were going through.

~ Deepwater Horizon Crew Member

Work with a lawyer who truly understands Maritime Law.

Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that
you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it
works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

The verdicts and settlements listed on this site are intended to be representative
of cases handled by the maritime lawyers of Arnold & Itkin LLP. These
listings are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any other claims